The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-19

department to exclude from all grants, and
from the indemnity basis, all grants where
In such reserved lands are by the terms OF
the law excluded from the operation OF
the act"
Early last summer, II appears, Secretary
Lamar had directed Commissioner Sparks
10 adjust certain land claims presented by
the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis Il
Omaha road, above referred to; and as
that road runs through certain Indian res
ervations, Mr.. Sparks decided that the
company could not recoup from indemnity
lands for lands lost by reason of the road
running through such reservations. On
Oct. It'll, Mr.. Lamar overruled that decis-
lon, and directed Mr.. Sparks to convey to
the railroad company lands from indemni-
ty reservations to repay them for whatever
lands they had lost by running through
Indian reservations. Mr.. Sparks, before
obeying the mandate, begged the Secreta-
~ TO reconsider his decision, and made an
argument to show he was wrong, and that
the railroad company WAS not entitled to
the lands claimed.
To this Nov. 18th, Mr.. Lamar replies
with considerable heat, first arguing that
Mr.. Sparks is entirely mistaken as to his
Interpretation of the law; secondly, that
such was the view Of the official legal adj.
wiser oflthe department; and, thirdly, that
such was his own deliberate conclusion
after having duly weighed all the points
and objections raised by Mr.. Sparks,
And Mr. Lamar proceeds further to state,
that when he rendered his decision in the
Omaha cases, after giving all due weight
to Mr.. Sparks objections, he did not con-
slider 1t his duty to assume the task to con-
vince him (Mr. Sparks of the correctness
of his OLamar's) Instructions by deliberate
citations of all decided cases applicable to
the subject All left for him Lamar after
having made up his mind was "to direct
you as to what duties | required you to
perform :" but the practical effect of your
present course is that you cannot execute
my orders and follow my instructions and
co operate In my administration without
surrendering opinions conscientiously en-
tertained with reference to vitality import
ant interests" Under the circumstances,
therefore, concludes Mr.. Lamar
at is due to an orderly and decorous
administration of government, to important
public interests, and to the common cause
confided in part to our hands by the presi
dent, and to the personal regard we should
both entertain for him, that he should be
allowed to choose Secretary Of the Inter
Tor who will conform his administration to
your opinions, or to appoint Commission
or of Public Lands who will administer
his bureau In harmony of spirit and concert
of action with the chief OF the department.
without putting him to the necessity of
more decisive action on his part. This al.
Tentative l shall submit to the President at
the same time that this paper will be
handed TO you"
And thereupon Mr.. Sparks, in long
letter to the President maintaining his side
of the issue, tenders his resignation, and
the President, in very friendly letter,
his strongest conviction of Mr.
Sparks honesty, but inclined to think on
the law questions involved Mr.. Lamar may
be In the right, accepts Mr.. Sparks resig-
nation.
1t Is, of course, not for us to undertake
to say whether, in the stand Mr.. Sparks
has taken, he is legally correct or not; but
this is at least to be said In his favor, that
in the persistent war he has waged on the
land thieves, lsnd grabbers and monopo-
lists ever since he has entered the land
office, he has been Jealous only for the
rights and interests of the settlers, the peo-
pie and the government against the greed
of uncOnscionable cOrmorants and robbers;
and through his attempts to buffet against
laws passed In the interest of land grabbers
and monopolists during twenty five years
of unbroken republican reign, may at
times have been like beating his head
against stone wall, the SYN pathjes of all
honest people have been thoroughlywith
him through it all, and that in the end he
will not be the loser by his present rebuff.
-
The Farmers congress in session at Chi
cago on Friday last (some 300 delegates
being present. adopted series of resolu-
tions, asking Q) that the government as
sumo control of the business of the tele-
graph service; (2) that law in relation to
infectious diseases of cattle be passed
which shall place its execution in the hands
of commission; (3) the establishment of
a scientific school for the teaching of vet
Urinary and sanitary science; (4) that the
signal service be turned over to the agricul.
tural department; (5) that an appropriation
be made for the further investigation of